joabj writes: While MySQL the subject of much high-profile wrangling between the EU and Oracle (and MySQL creator himself), the MySQL developers have been quietly moving the widely-used database software forward. The new beta version of MySQL, the first publicly available, features such improvements as near-asynchronous replication and more options for partitioning. A new release model has been enacted as well, bequeathing this version the title of "MySQL Server 5.5.0-m2." Downloads here.